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Post by ceresone on Oct 20, 2021 18:32:21 GMT
Same!
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Post by bretf on Oct 20, 2021 23:16:31 GMT
Woolybear, Absolutely maybe, maybe not. Chapter 39
Kevin calmed considerably once he was in his truck. Jack and Jill sharing the seat with him were a soothing ointment to his frayed nerves. And for the first time, the weight of the pistol was a comfort. He wanted to admonish himself but couldn’t. His dogs were his family, and as he’d told Deputy Johnson, irreplaceable. The neighbors and their associates had violated his home, his castle, and placed his family in danger. He was finished playing the stooge. Dave was at his shop when Kevin arrived and had a holster waiting. Kevin thanked him, promised to pay when he got his next check, and hurried back to his truck and dogs. As he drove home with the new holster on the seat beside him, a large, well-lit truck approached in the other lane of the highway. A firetruck. Close behind was a sheriff’s patrol car. He turned his head in disbelief as he went by the cop car. His anger returned in a flash. “So that’s it? The sun goes down so you all go home? Do you have anyone in the back of the car with handcuffs on?” He slowed and turned onto his lane. And then he stopped. The anger, the raw emotion of the evening that’d faded during his trip to town had transformed. Although it was back, clear thinking accompanied it. And with it, trepidation. He’d seen one fire truck and one patrol car. Were they the last? Would he get to the end of the lane and find he was alone, alone with the thugs, the dope dealers, the murdering arsonists? Although his pistol was in the new holster he’d just promised to pay more for than he could imagine for one square foot of tooled leather, he pulled the gun out and placed it between his legs. Driving with one hand, he rested the other on the pistol’s butt. His home had a look of abandonment. Deputy Johnson’s patrol car and the second fire truck were gone. Left, was the burned-out remains of his shed. He let the headlights illuminate the wreck. A few charred boards stuck out of the soggy, ashen mess, along with the remnants of his garden tools. The inoperable rototiller was a blackened hulk. Gripping the pistol tighter, he pulled the truck into the carport and killed the engine. All was deathly quiet as he got out. Rather than return the pistol to the new holster, he held it ready, looking at the neighbors’ place. It was as dark and quiet as his home. Still, he kept the pistol ready as he walked slowly towards the shed, giving his eyes time to adjust to the lack of light. At the burned ruin, he stopped and looked at it. It was impossible to tell if anything could be salvaged. It’d have to wait for daylight. Swallowing the lump in his throat, he looked at the dark chicken pen. The eggs needed to be gathered and the night security door needed closed. But with the proximity of the pen to the fence, he couldn’t bring himself to go there. He turned and went to the house. At the door, he hesitated. Maybe Deputy Johnson was right and he shouldn’t be there. Maybe someone was waiting inside. Why hadn’t a cop waited? With a shaking hand, he got the key in the lock and swung the door open wide. Jack and Jill ran inside. Kevin let out the breath he hadn’t known he was holding. Surely, if someone was there, the dogs would let him know. He stepped across the threshold and clicked the lights on. The kitchen was as he’d left it. If anyone had come in, he couldn’t tell. Walking through the kitchen, he went to his bedroom. He holstered the pistol and picked up his shotgun. Though he knew it was fully loaded, he checked to make certain, then returned with it to the kitchen. He looked for a place to put it; he wanted it handy but not conspicuous. He stepped back and leaned it against the backside of the entryway frame, then stepped away and scrutinized the location. It was a few short steps from anywhere in the kitchen but not visible. Jack and Jill watched impatiently. In their form of communication, heads bobbing, whining, and pacing in front of their dishes, they conveyed the message he might have eaten but they hadn’t. Allowing himself a grin, he said, “Oh, yeah, I guess you need to eat.” They didn’t seem concerned with anyone lurking. Hopefully, it wasn’t just because they were hungry and there really wasn’t anyone around. He poured kibble into their bowls and got out of their way. They ate with gusto and were nearly finished when they stopped. Ears raised, they left the dishes and stalked to the door. Headlights flashed as a car pulled to a stop behind his truck. Kevin’s heart raced and he stepped back into the shadows, the shogun at his side. His right hand rested on the pistol grip. Then he thought about it. The thugs wouldn’t be driving up. If it was them, they’d come in dark and quiet. It was probably Deputy Johnson returning. Despite his reasoning, he jumped when knuckles rapped on the door and the dogs barked. “Kev, hey Kev, I need to talk to you. Can I come in?” Tammy. What’s she doing here? Oh, yeah, I guess I know. His face grim, he walked to the door and unlocked it. Standing clear of the door with his hand on his pistol, he said, “Come in.” Was she alone or were her compatriots behind her and ready to rush in? He eased away from the door to where the shotgun waited, resting his hand on the pistol the entire time. Tammy stepped tentatively into the room. Jack and Jill faced her, growling. Tammy looked him up and down. Was that relief on her face? “Kev, oh, I’m glad to see you.” “Why? We were together all day?” She closed her eyes and took a breath. Opening her eyes, she said, “I heard what happened. I was worried about you.” Kevin’s nerves were raw and he was past being polite. “Really? So, how’d you hear? Was it the phone call you got before you dashed out? From your colleagues?” She looked away, a tell. “No, uh, I have a scanner. It picks up the police and fire department bands.” “Is that right? And why would you need a scanner?” His jaw tightened and he nodded his head. “Oh, I think I know why you want to keep tabs on the cops.” Her eyes moistened and she said softly, “Kev, it’s not what you think. Come to —” She never finished. Jack and Jill leaped past her, snarling, their fangs bared and the hair on their backs standing up. The door crashed open. Thug One lumbered into the room, his bald head gleaming. The dogs faced him, snarling. “I told you to control your freakin mutts!” he snarled and aimed a powerful kick at Jack. Jill leaped at the man’s leg. He produced a pistol, swinging it towards her. “NO!” Kevin yelled and leaped for her. He was too late. Tammy acted fast and snatched the lunging dog by the collar. Kevin took the collar, pulling Jill as she fought to get to the thug. He backed slowly towards the doorway with the concealed shotgun. The pistol was too obvious. If he made a move for it, the thug would be sure to fire. But maybe the shotgun would be a surprise. Jack backed away with him, growling at the intruder. Another man entered the room; Thug two. Kevin continued to edge backward. He was close but still too far. A third man entered, a man Kevin had only seen from a distance; Charley. Cindy bracketed him. The small room was getting crowded and Kevin continued moving back. Jill fought to get away and attack the intruders. Thug One and Thug Two moved to one side of the doorway, Charley and Cindy to the other. The view to the door was unobstructed. Kevin’s blood ran cold. Jack Randall the man who’d vowed to kill him stepped inside, his face twisted in a feral smile. The barrel of the handgun he held was pointed directly at Kevin’s chest.
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Post by woolybear on Oct 20, 2021 23:43:02 GMT
bretf, OH COME ON MAN...SERIOUSLY??? You know I've got plenty of free time on my hands....don't....make...me....hunt...you....down.....
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Post by Ozarks Tom on Oct 20, 2021 23:55:14 GMT
bretf, Alright, if you don't have a chapter up tomorrow I'll talk to the mods!
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Post by themotherhen on Oct 21, 2021 5:25:19 GMT
bretf, this has been coming to a head for awhile; looking forward to the next installment!!!
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Post by ceresone on Oct 21, 2021 20:13:13 GMT
What else does this man have to do? Can we pay his salary for a few days so he can devote his time to writing??
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Post by bretf on Oct 22, 2021 10:57:19 GMT
Chapter 40
Kevin was transfixed by the barrel of the gun aimed straight at him. From his viewpoint, it appeared huge, on par with the pipe he’d made the well bucket from. The hole from the bullet it’d blast through him would be bigger yet. I’m about to die. The dogs sensed his change and pressed in against him.
Like an old, freeze-frame video, his mind clicked to the news report he’d heard; overcrowding and early release. How could Randall have qualified? He was a violent man and minutes from becoming a murderer if he wasn’t already.
Randall dropped the wild animal smile and turned a crooked grin to Tammy. “Hey, Sis. I’m glad you were able to make it. Cin wasn’t sure that you would.” He turned to Cindy and patted her on her exquisite butt, chuckling. She beamed from the attention.
Some of what Randall said broke through Kevin’s fog. Sis? Tammy’s his sister? It was worse than he’d believed. Tammy hadn’t latched onto him to keep tabs on him due to living beside the place Charley and Cindy wanted to make their dope. It was much deeper, much more devious. They’d targeted him, she’d targeted him, getting close to make it easier for Randall to reach him and kill him. It was all an act, playing a concerned friend so Randall could mosey right in. Why didn’t I have the shotgun when I went to the door?
Randall grinned at Tammy. “So, Charley and Cin were telling me a hilarious story about this loser. They said Cin was doing everything she could to entice him and turn him into her personal sex slave. But the damn fool didn’t go for it. What a freakin loser. And they said you came on pretty strong, too. Did you get lucky?”
Tammy shook her head and said, “No. I thought I was getting close but something always got in the way. But, maybe not bagging him was getting lucky. He’s probably not worth the effort.”
Randall laughed at the jab and shook his head in disbelief. “I knew he was a loser, but turning down both of you? I sure as hell couldn’t keep my hands off of you two.” The hand that’d patted Cindy switched to caressing. She rolled her head back and sighed. “Maybe he likes boys better. He’d fit in good in the joint.”
Kevin stared wide-eyed, unable to grasp all he was hearing. But a foggy memory surfaced of kissing Tammy in The Watering Hole parking lot. That’s it? My God, Kev, I could get more heat out of a kiss with my brother. Her brother, Randall; it hadn’t just been a comment. There was history behind it. And to think at one time he was attracted to her. His mouth filled with saliva and he tasted bile, nearly vomiting at the recollection of the passion in their second kiss. His mind was close to overload. Tammy, Cindy, Randall, the huge gun pointing at him.
“Well, enough about his shortcomings,” Randall said, and laughed again. “I need to show him what happens to people that screw with me.”
“Right here?” Charley asked.
Randall shrugged. “Well, I might beat out of him where that and her kid are since they started the crap. He’s gotta know. But I won’t kill him here. I know a better place where we won’t have to clean up afterward.”
Randall looked at Tammy again. “Have we got time before the cops get here?
She smiled and said, “Plenty of time. The one’s working the fire all clocked out and won’t be back until morning.”
Randall turned the animal look back at Kevin. “Great. Secure him and take his gun.” He fished into his left-hand jacket pocket, produced a long zip-tie, and tossed it to her.
“You got it,” she said and turned to Kevin. “Oh, Kev, you don’t know what you missed. Cindy and I could’ve taken you to levels of ecstasy you’ve never experienced before. Both of us together if you’d asked nicely, or maybe not so nicely,” she said with a wicked grin. “I’ll bet that would’ve really blown your mind. And now you’ll never find out how good it could’ve been. What a waste. I would’ve enjoyed training you. Now, put your hands behind your back.”
Kevin didn’t move, he was shell-shocked.
Tammy took his left arm and pulled it behind his back. She grasped his right arm. “Here’s a sample of what you’ll miss out on.” She planted light kisses on his neck, moving slowly up while Randall hooted at her. She paused at his ear, seeming to nibble. “Trust me,” she said so softly it wasn’t audible more than a foot away.
Though dazed from his predicament and what Randall had revealed, he registered what she said. Trust you? Yeah, right! Still playing your part right up to the end.
She held his right arm behind his back and nested it with his left. As she appeared to wrap the zip-tie around his wrists, she slipped her hand inside his pocket. Her lips were back on his neck. “Oh Kev, we could’ve had so much fun together. I’d have made you forget you ever saw my sister without her clothes on. Well, unless it was a threesome.” She pulled the pocket pistol free and placed it in his right hand, leaving the zip tie in its place. Kevin couldn’t keep the shocked look off his face as he turned and gaped at her.
Randall laughed. “Oh, gawd! The idiot finally figured out you’ve been playing him. He’s dumber than I thought.” He howled with laughter, the pistol in his right hand swinging wildly.
Tammy pulled the 9mm from Kevin’s new holster and stepped back and grinned at him. “Your loss.” Turning further so only he could see, the grin dropped and she mouthed, “Trust me.”
Turning back to Randall, in a loud voice, she said, “Alright, we’re set. Let’s do this.”
The room suddenly went black.
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Post by woolybear on Oct 22, 2021 14:29:16 GMT
Oh yeah, bretf, has the twists and turns a rolling now lol. This is some pretty good stuff you've got going on. It's way better than some of the stories I've borrowed for my kindle from amazon. Once you've finished it you should pull it all together and list it on amazon and see what happens.
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Post by bretf on Oct 23, 2021 10:36:26 GMT
Chapter 41
Kevin stood still as a statue while trying to process what’d happened. Then someone grabbed him – Tammy? - pushing him back out of the kitchen.
Tammy’s urgent orders sunk into his foggy brain. “Move, Kev! You’ve got to get out of here! Now!”
Trying to understand what was going on, he let her direct him slowly backwards. He was still in the entryway, with partial visibility of the kitchen when the room was illuminated by powerful beams of light shooting in through the windows. Something solid slammed against the window over the sink. Shards of glass flew inwards and a shotgun barrel protruded from the opening. People were shouting. They drowned each other out but he thought he heard “Freeze, Police”. As if he was capable of movement at the moment.
Tammy’s familiar voice close to him sunk into his muddled mind. “If you want to live, don’t move a muscle!”
Shaken out of his stupor, he looked at her, expecting to see his pistol aimed at his chest. Instead, Tammy held his pistol in a two-handed grip, aiming it across the room. She took slow, careful steps away from him. Just what was she playing at?
He looked to where Randall and his ilk were. After a moment of shocked hesitation, they didn’t seem to know about her either, they ignored the shouts to not move. For the second time that evening, his blood ran cold.
The thugs, One and Two, were both bringing pistols up in Tammy’s direction. Charley had a hand under his jacket in the place a shoulder holster would be located. And Randall was moving his pistol to bear on her.
Kevin swung his right hand around, the pocket pistol gripped tightly, thumbing the hammer back as he swung it. “Randall, it’s me you want!” he shouted.
Randall returned the aim to Kevin.
Kevin sighted on Randall’s chest and his finger tightened. And then, he hesitated, not squeezing the trigger strongly enough to slam the hammer down. Not causing it to strike the primer and ignite the powder. Not causing the explosive action that would drive the copper-lead projectile through Randall’s heart and end his pathetic existence.
At that critical moment, the old thoughts flooded his mind. What gives me the right to decide if a man lives or dies? I’m not God. It’s up to Him to make those decisions, not me. I can’t be judge, jury, and executioner all rolled into one. Only one being holds that right. Jesus preached forgiveness.
The gun was heavy in his hand and it was all he could do to hold it.
The room was filled with a cacophony of loud blasts as the others not having a mental debate fired.
The force of a bullet slammed Kevin back. The pistol fell from his hand as he collapsed to the floor. Gravity had never felt so strong but he slowly raised his head.
Randall, his shirt turning red, staggered across the room towards him. Randall’s lips moved but Kevin couldn’t hear a word. His ears rang from the concussive gunshots in the tight space. He saw his shotgun leaning within reach of his foot. Seconds earlier, he couldn’t shoot Randall. Could he now? He tried to kick it free as Randall slowly raised his pistol. The angle was off and he only managed to push the shotgun farther into the corner. Randall trained the muzzle squarely at Kevin’s face and his finger tightened.
Jack and Jill leaped from beside him.
For the second time in under a minute, Kevin’s world went black. He didn’t see his dogs flatten the killer with their combined force.
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Post by woolybear on Oct 23, 2021 14:23:34 GMT
NOOOOO not the dogs. bretf, don't you dare hurt those dogs.
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Post by themotherhen on Oct 23, 2021 20:56:24 GMT
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Post by ceresone on Oct 24, 2021 0:24:38 GMT
Drat not a place to stop, keep the dogs safe?
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Post by meandtk on Oct 24, 2021 3:45:09 GMT
I’m hangin’ off the edge of this cliff and swaying with the breeze.
Hurry up and pull me back!
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Post by bretf on Oct 24, 2021 10:47:58 GMT
Chapter 42
Kevin drifted in heavy fog. He had no clue whatsoever where he was but it was peaceful. He liked it. Was he in Heaven? Maybe. Randall had shot him. Then the killer staggered across the room to deliver the coup de grâce. Apparently, he’d succeeded. So maybe he was in Heaven, even though he didn’t believe he was worthy. There was no sign of Randall, the thugs, Charley and Cindy. They certainly weren’t worthy. And no Tammy.
Tammy the enigma. What on earth was she up to? He’d admitted long ago he’d never understand women but Tammy’s actions ratcheted his confusion up to a whole new level. She left him more confused than any woman ever had.
He looked around, trying to see through the heavy fog. Jack and Jill weren’t with him, either. The realization was bittersweet. They were his companions, his family. He couldn’t imagine living without them. But he must not be living. He’d moved on. And they were still alive, hopefully. Janice, take care of them! They, they, …He couldn’t form the words in his head of how precious they were to him.
He drifted through the fog effortlessly. Could he escape those thoughts and the pain of being separated from his family? What are the rules here?
The fog began to clear and his eyes opened wide. Oh my God! It had to be Heaven! It was the only possibility and God was facilitating the encounter. That’s Grandma and Grandpa. Grandma, Grandpa. I can’t believe this. Oh, wow! I’ve been thinking of you a lot lately. I wished I could ask you all kinds of things about how you lived. I was trying to get set up like you were before we had all the technology and machines. No, wait. Don’t leave, not so soon. We haven’t talked. What do you mean? Who’s coming?
How could they leave so soon? There was too much to say. Especially how much he loved and missed them. He’d rarely if ever told them when he could. Now he could and wanted to. But where were they? He had to tell them. Where’d they go?
#
“Katie, get over here! He doesn’t have a pulse! Stuff something in those holes to slow the bleeding. I’m starting CPR!
“Damn you, Kev, don’t you die on me! I won’t allow it on my watch! Where’s that damn ambulance and paramedics?”
“They’re on their way. Now, take it easy. But what about you? You’re bleeding.”
“Take it easy? Take it easy? Damn it, Katie, we got him killed! And I can wait.”
“Okay, at least ease up on the compressions. Do you want to add broken ribs to his problems?”
“What’s it matter if he’s got broken ribs if I can’t get his heart going? Or you let him bleed out. Now, help me, damnit!”
#
Dad, Mom! Oh, thank you, Jesus, it’s so good to see you. Both of you, together. So, we are in Heaven? All of us together again? Yeah, Dad, I grew up. I wish you’d have been there for it. Maybe you’d have kept me from doing all the dumb things I did. I really needed you because I did a lot of dumb things. And I know I gave Mom a lot of heartburn and gray hair getting to this point.
Yeah, I guess. I suppose I turned out alright and I’ve helped a lot of kids and families. But look what it got me. Although, it let me see you guys. You, you’re not going to disappear like Grandma and Grandpa did, are you?
Good! I’ve really missed you, even if I didn’t know you, Dad, I still missed you!
#
“Stop CPR. I’m going to tube him. Easy, easy. Thank God his trach is clear. Dang, how many slugs did he take, anyway? Okay, just a bit more. Aaaand, there, I’m in. Inflate the balloon. Good, bag him. Resume chest compressions.
“Are you good? I need to get a line going if we’re going to save him. Hey, easy! I’m doing all I can, now continue compressions and I’ll get this going.
“Okay, it’s in. Billy, hold this bag. Jeff, let’s wire him up. Okay, stop CPR. No, I’m not going to shock him, he’s flat-lined, not in V-fib so it wouldn’t do any good; this isn’t TV. Resume CPR.”
#
Did I do wrong, Dad? I mean, should I have shot him? Jack Randall? It just didn’t feel right to take another man’s life. Not even him and I know he’s a rotten waste of flesh; a woman and child abuser.
Yes, I knew he was going to shoot me but I couldn’t pull the trigger when I needed to. You went to war and must’ve had to shoot people. How did you deal with it?
Huh. Well, I see your point, but it’s still hard for me to believe my life’s more important than someone else’s, even him. He was someone’s child, too, you know.
Well, yeah, he is, or was an adult and made his own choices.
Yes, he was the aggressor and came to me, so I guess you’re right.
No, I’m not sure. I think he was killed, too. Someone was with me and I think she shot him.
A friend? Wow, Dad, that’s a tough question and I wish I knew the answer. I honestly don’t know what she is.
Hey, hold on. Where’re you going? Dad, Mom, come back!
#
“Alright! We’ve got a weak pulse. Get the gurney over here. On my count; one, two, three. Good, get the straps. Billy, I want you with me. Nice job, ladies. Hopefully, you saved his life and we get him to the ER in time. And we can get him in with all the damned Covid cases flooding the place. Let’s roll.”
“Okay, now can I see how bad you were hit?”
“Yeah, go ahead.”
“Well, you’ll live. It’s a through and through. But we need to get you sewed up. Can you drive or do you need Reynolds to take you?”
“I can manage. But help me get Jack and Jill. I can’t leave them here.”
“Good idea. We better grab their food and bowls, too. Do you want me to call Janice?”
“Naw, I’ll take them.”
“You sure?”
“Yeah, now help me.”
“Okay. And call me when you hear anything about that hard-headed fool. I sure wish I could’ve talked him out of staying here.”
“You and me both, sister. Now let’s get his dogs. This hole is burning like crazy. And you’ve got a crap-load of work here.”
#
Mom, Dad, hey, where are you. Where’d you go? Grandma, Grandpa? Why’d you all leave? Mom, Dad, oh there you are. Why’d you disappear like that? Don’t leave me alone like that again. Please, I don’t know how this place works.
#
“Billy, he flat lined again. Begin chest compressions.”
#
Kevin drifted. And he didn’t only drift in fog; it felt like the fog had invaded his mind. Other than the brief periods he was with his parents, nothing made sense. Time had no meaning in the odd place. Whatever the rules of this place were, they were bizarre.
His mom and dad returned from wherever they’d gone, only to disappear again in the blink of an eye. Through the daze, he thought he saw Deputy Katie. And Tammy. It was hard to tell with them both wearing masks. Plus, he saw Walt. Janice. Even his children, Hannah and Noah. They flitted in and out like his parents. And his grandparents. He got to see them again, but they too were gone in a flash.
Though confused and wrapped in the mind fog, he decided he wasn’t in Heaven after all. Not when he saw Debbie. You’re too late, Debbie. I don’t have anything left to give you. You took everything but my life and Randall took it.
Shaking his head in dismay, he wondered, Who’s next, Randall and his group?
Once, he thought he saw Jack and Jill at a distance. They wouldn’t come to him. He looked around for his parents. Maybe they could reach the dogs for him. But they were gone. And so were the dogs.
He was in a very strange place.
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Post by Ozarks Tom on Oct 24, 2021 12:08:51 GMT
What an amazing chapter! I don't remember reading anything better in a long, long time. Can't wait for the next episode.
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